From Little Things Big Things Grow by Kev Carmody Lyrics
[Intro: Paul Kelly, Kev Carmody and Unknown]
Oh, well, let's get this in one, eh? (I think that means we have to get it right this time, hm. *Laughs*)
Yeah, yeah, oh, we'll get it spot on
Six, five, four, three, two, one
[Verse 1: Paul Kelly & Kev Carmody]
Gather 'round, people, I'll tell you a story
An eight-year long story of power and pride
British Lord Vestey and Vincent Lingiari
Were opposite men on opposite sides
Vestey was fat, with money and muscle
Beef was his business, broad was his door
Vincent was lean, spoke very littlе
He had no bank balance, hard dirt was his floor
[Chorus]
From little things, big things grow
From littlе things, big things grow
[Verse 2: Paul Kelly & Kev Carmody]
Gurindji were working for nothin' but rations
Where once they had gathered the wealth of the land
Daily, the pressure got tighter and tighter
Gurindji decided they must make a stand
They picked up their swags, started off walkin'
At Wattie Creek, they sat 'emselves down
Now, it don't sound like much, but it sure got tongues talkin'
Back at the homestead and then in the town
[Chorus]
From little things, big things grow
From little things, big things grow
[Verse 3: Paul Kelly & Kev Carmody]
Vestey-man said, "I'll double your wages
Seven quid a week you'll have in your hand"
Vincent said, "Uh-uh, we're not talkin' about wages
We're sittin' right here till we get our land"
Vestey-man roared, Vestey-man thundered
"You don't stand the chance of a cinder in snow"
Vince said, "If we fall, others are risin'"
[Chorus]
From little things, big things grow
From little things, big things grow
[Verse 4: Paul Kelly & Kev Carmody]
Then Vincent Lingiari, he boarded an airplane
Landed in Sydney, big city of lights
Daily he went round, softly speaking his story
To all kinds of men from all walks of life
Vincent sat down with them big politicians
"This affair," they told him, "it's a matter of state
Let us sort it out, why, your people are hungry!"
Vincent said, "No thanks, we know how to wait"
[Chorus]
From little things, big things grow
From little things, big things grow
[Verse 5: Paul Kelly & Kev Carmody]
Then Vincent Lingiari returned in an aeroplane
Back to his country once more to sit down
And he told his people, "Let the stars keep on turnin'
We have friends in the south, in the cities and towns"
Eight years went by, eight long years of waitin'
Till one day a tall stranger appeared in the land
And he came with lawyers and came with great ceremony
Through Vincent's fingers poured a handful of sand, and
[Chorus]
From little things, big things grow
From little things, big things grow
[Verse 6]
That was the story of Vincent Lingairi
This is the story of somethin' much more
How power and privilege can not move a people
Who know where they stand, and they stand in their law
[Chorus]
From little things, big things grow
From little things, big things grow
From little things, big things grow
From little things, big things grow
From little things, big things grow
From little things, big things grow
From little things, big things grow
From little things, big things grow
Oh, well, let's get this in one, eh? (I think that means we have to get it right this time, hm. *Laughs*)
Yeah, yeah, oh, we'll get it spot on
Six, five, four, three, two, one
[Verse 1: Paul Kelly & Kev Carmody]
Gather 'round, people, I'll tell you a story
An eight-year long story of power and pride
British Lord Vestey and Vincent Lingiari
Were opposite men on opposite sides
Vestey was fat, with money and muscle
Beef was his business, broad was his door
Vincent was lean, spoke very littlе
He had no bank balance, hard dirt was his floor
[Chorus]
From little things, big things grow
From littlе things, big things grow
[Verse 2: Paul Kelly & Kev Carmody]
Gurindji were working for nothin' but rations
Where once they had gathered the wealth of the land
Daily, the pressure got tighter and tighter
Gurindji decided they must make a stand
They picked up their swags, started off walkin'
At Wattie Creek, they sat 'emselves down
Now, it don't sound like much, but it sure got tongues talkin'
Back at the homestead and then in the town
[Chorus]
From little things, big things grow
From little things, big things grow
[Verse 3: Paul Kelly & Kev Carmody]
Vestey-man said, "I'll double your wages
Seven quid a week you'll have in your hand"
Vincent said, "Uh-uh, we're not talkin' about wages
We're sittin' right here till we get our land"
Vestey-man roared, Vestey-man thundered
"You don't stand the chance of a cinder in snow"
Vince said, "If we fall, others are risin'"
[Chorus]
From little things, big things grow
From little things, big things grow
[Verse 4: Paul Kelly & Kev Carmody]
Then Vincent Lingiari, he boarded an airplane
Landed in Sydney, big city of lights
Daily he went round, softly speaking his story
To all kinds of men from all walks of life
Vincent sat down with them big politicians
"This affair," they told him, "it's a matter of state
Let us sort it out, why, your people are hungry!"
Vincent said, "No thanks, we know how to wait"
[Chorus]
From little things, big things grow
From little things, big things grow
[Verse 5: Paul Kelly & Kev Carmody]
Then Vincent Lingiari returned in an aeroplane
Back to his country once more to sit down
And he told his people, "Let the stars keep on turnin'
We have friends in the south, in the cities and towns"
Eight years went by, eight long years of waitin'
Till one day a tall stranger appeared in the land
And he came with lawyers and came with great ceremony
Through Vincent's fingers poured a handful of sand, and
[Chorus]
From little things, big things grow
From little things, big things grow
[Verse 6]
That was the story of Vincent Lingairi
This is the story of somethin' much more
How power and privilege can not move a people
Who know where they stand, and they stand in their law
[Chorus]
From little things, big things grow
From little things, big things grow
From little things, big things grow
From little things, big things grow
From little things, big things grow
From little things, big things grow
From little things, big things grow
From little things, big things grow